Update On Botswana

Published: April - 2006

Over in Botswana, I'm pleased to report that the dispute between Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris (OOAAS) and a community entity called Xhauxhwatubi Development Trust has been partially settled. Last month, you'll recall, we reported that client trophies taken with OOAAS on the community's lands (specifically, Controlled Hunting Area NG 49) had been seized by the government over the non-payment of certain fees.

Well, near press time, we received a letter from the trust's attorneys indicating that payment had been made for the trophies taken last year in NG 49 and, therefore, the trophies were being released. The letter went on to say, however, that a legal disagreement still remained over the trophies on quota that were not shot. A court case addressing that dispute was still pending before the High Court of Botswana, the letter said.

Reached in South Africa, OOAAS's Dawie Groenewald said he was confident this dispute would be settled. In fact, a meeting for that purpose had already been set up. "We are about to commence safari operations in NG 49," Groenewald said. "The quota dispute will be handled shortly."